Rio Tapajós Communities
The communities of Suruacá and Maguary are located on opposite shores of the Tapajós River, both about 6 hours by boat from the nearest city of Santarém, in the Brazilian state of Pará. During the rainy season the Tapajós is nearly 35 km wide at this point. Unlike the Amazon River, which it joins near Santarém, the Tapajós is quite clear of debris because it originates in the geologically more stable highlands toward the south. Like throughout most of the Amazon basin, the river is the communities' lifeblood and main highway.
Maguary is located on the eastern shore of the Tapajós River between the communities of São Domingo and Jamaraqua, and within the borders of the Flona do Tapajós (Tapajós National Forest).
In addition to a commercial boat service (twice weekly), the community is also served in the dry season by one bus daily (4 hours). Due to road access, Maguary is more integrated with the urban life than is the case with Suruacá.
Suruacá is located on the West side of the Tapajós River, about 3-5 km from the smaller communities of Capixuã and Bella Vista. The only regular means of transportation is the twice weekly boat service (6 hours) between the communities on the West shore with Santarém.
History and People
More than 6000 years ago the Tapajoara culture left stone figures and fragments of some of the earliest known pottery in the Americas in and near the Santarém area1. And while a Jesuit mission was established in Santarém in 1758, it wasn't until the 1880s that the region Suruacá and Maguary began being settled by non-indigenous people. Driven from the sertão (backlands) by drought, the forefathers of the residents of the communities were lured to the Amazon by the promise of prosperity by becoming seringueiros (rubber-tappers).
The majority of today's residents of Suruacá and Maguary are coboclos and have a mix of European, African and Indigenous bloodlines.
1 Source: Lonely Planet Brazil, 2006, p. 600
Demographics at a glance
Maguary
| Population | 42 families (74 including Jamaraqua
and São Domingo) 204 inhabitants (353 including Jamaraqua and São Domingo) |
| Health | 1 Community Health agent, also serves Jamaraqua and São Domingo |
| Water System | Well piped to most houses (completed 2005). |
| School | Through middle school (8th grade) located in Maguary. São Domingo and Jamaraqua students also attend this school. |
| Electricity | Generator supplying 2-3 hours electricity 2-3 nights a week for the community center. Also a couple of small photovoltaic systems. There is a possibility that the grid might reach the communities by 2008 |
| Other significant infrastructure | Solar-powered Telecenter with 3 PCs and Internet Connection |
Suruacá
| Population | 97 families (167 including
Capixuã and Vista Alegre) 428 inhabitants (719 including Capixuã and Vista Alegre) |
| Health | 1 Community Health center with community health agent and 1 attendant in Suruacá. Capixuã also has one community health agent. |
| Water System | Well piped to all houses in Suruacá (original system 1994, expansion completed 2006) |
| School | Suruacá now has classes through middle school (8th grade) 170 students and 6 teachers. Capixuã has only primary school (1st - 4th grade). Students may travel to Suruacá for 4th-8th, however the distance is quite long to travel regularly and few do. Vista Alegre children attend school in Capixuã. |
| Electricity | Generator supplying 2-3 hours electricity 2-3 nights a week for house and city street lights. Also a couple of small photovoltaic systems. The community has undertaken an initiative to build a micro-hydroelectric dam which would meet current and expected needs for all three communities for at least the next 10 years. |
| Other significant infrastructure | Solar-powered telecenter with 3 PCs and Internet Connection |
Key Community Initiatives
As result of the work of CEN and others, the communities of Maguary and Suruacá have begun to take control of their own development. The following is a sample of some of the initiatives which individuals in the communities are driving in order to improve their communities:
Please note that this section will be enhanced and expanded shortly. If you have any questions on or wish to assist with any of these initiatives, please contact us
Income Generation
- Cuoro Ecologica "Natural Leather" Handbags
- Handmade jewelry
- Woodworking
- Natural aromatic oils
- Honey
- Baskets
- Fruit preserves
- Eco-tourism
- Digital culture
- Community savings groups
Infrastructure
- Microhydro electric dam (Suruacá)
- Connecting to the electricity grid (Maguary)
- Community telecenters (Suruacá and Maguary)
Education
- Books for the library
- Certificate for Teaching Mastery
- Incorporation of educational software into teaching
- English (and Spanish) language course
Civics
- Accessing government services via the internet
Health
- Community heath palestras (discussions)
- Remote doctor consultations
- Eye exams
Environment
- Garbage and waste management
In this article
Articles about these communities
In Pursuit of Opportunity:
An Interview with Ericon Carlos Costa dos Santos
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Couro Ecológica
"Ecological Leather" Handbags
Interview with Arimar Feitosa with Couro Ecológica
Information is Power in Suruacá
Interview with Djalma Lima, Community Health Agent in Suruacá
New Business Off the Top of Their Heads
Photo Gallery of Tapajós communities
Photo Gallery of Handmade jewelry from Suruacá
Photo Gallery of Couro Ecológica Products
Photo Gallery of Couro Ecológica Factory
Other communities
Xixuau
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